Improvement in car-couplings



"UNITED iSTM-ES lPATENT @rr-Ion WILLIAM w. MeooLLUM', or SELMA, ALABAMA, AssiGNoR rro H. F. MULLEN.

IMPROVEMENT IN cAR-couPLlNGs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186.59 l, `dated January 23, 1877 application iled y November 2o, 1876.

To all lwhom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. MCOOL- l LUM, of Selma, in the county of Dallas and l in the State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar- Oouplings; and do hereby declare that the 3 following isa full, clear,.and exact descrip- `tion thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

-The nature ot' my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of an automatic or self car-coupling, as will be hereinafter `more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art `to which my invention appertains to make `and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure l is a view of my car-coupling, part p in side elevation and part in'longitudinal sec- C at itsouter or front end. To the draw-bar B is secured a stirrup, E, hanging down below the same for a suitable distance, and in y `this stirrup is pivoted a coupling-bar, D, ex-

" tending in front andrear of the stirrup, as

shown. The coupling-bar D has a longitudinal slot, a, near each end, and is suspended near the center in the stirrup E by means of the suspension or draw-bolt b. At the rear .end of the coupling-bar D is suspended a balance-weight, G, for the purpose of producing y oscillation by motion received from the regular vibration of the car to which the coupling- -bar is attached. This weight is suspended by means of a bolt, d, passing up through the slot in the rear end of the coupling-bar D, and a nut, e, fastened on top of said bolt, whereby said weight can be adjusted out or in, as required,to counterbalance the weight of the front end of said coupling-bar. The

1Q W front end of the coupling-bar is beveled, as

shown at f, so that when two cars approach each other the coupling-bars will, from the oscillation imparted by the cars, readily pass each other without causing any concussion by striking. Under each coupling-bar Din front ofthe pivot-bolt b, and in rear of the front slot a, is attached to it a receiving-jaw, H, ,in the bottom of which is pivoted a tumblingbar or coupling-pin, I, the upper end of which is received in the front slot of the couplingbar after the beveled end of the opposite coupling-bar has entered the receiving-jaw and tilted the tumbling-bar to a horizontal position, whereby it Will readily drop back to a verticalposition through the slot in the bar D, and thereby coupling the cars.' The receivingjaw H is constructed inclined, as shown, with a curved bottom lip, h, extending down to a depth of eight inches, more or less, so as to insure a coupling with all cars of different height now in use. The jaw H is also formed with-side -lips fi i, so as to insure a coupling fromany side or lateral motion that may be caused by wear and tear and other causes. The tumblingbar I is suspended to the receiving-jaw by means of side bearings m, and bolt n, and has Iits lower en d weighted, so as to fall back by its own gravity to a vertical position after the coupling-bar D has turned it down when entering the receiving-jaw. Each tumbling-bar I has armsp p projecting at the lower end to opposite sides, and a chain or rope, s, attached to them for uncoupling the cars by tilting the tumblingbar.

Along the front ofthe car under the frame A is a shaft, t, with a lever or handle, J, at each endthat is, on each side of the car-for operating the tumbling-bar. This shaft t has an arm, o, connected by a link, w, with the short arm of an elbow or bent lever, K, pivoted on the end ofthe boltb, while the other arm of said lever has at its end a projecting finger, x, that operates upon the lower end of the tumbling-bar I for uncoupling the cars. rIhe cars can thus be uncoupled from either side or end of the car, as may be desired.

Instead of attaching the stirrup E to the draw-bar B, it may be attached to the frame ofthe car, but in such case a suitable bumper must be arranged on the carto receive the concussion.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The coupling-bar D, suspended in a stirrup, E, provided with the receiving-jaw H, and balanced by means of the adjustable Weight Gr, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the pivoted and balanced coupling-bar D, having slots a aJ and beveled end f, the adjustable weight G, reoeiving-jaw H, and tumbling-bar I, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The combination of the shaft #with le vers J J, and arm o, link "w, elbow-lever K,

and nger w, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. A

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of November, 1876. 

